The Sacrifice by Kitty Thomas Narrator: Jason Clarke, Addison Barnes
Series: Dark Wedding #2
Published by Indie on May 18, 2023
Genres: Romance
Length: 7 hours and 1 minute
Format: Audiobook
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Apple
I caught the bouquet at my best friend’s wedding. I wasn’t even dating anyone, so I was sure I wouldn’t be next.
Until someone from the past came back. We’d promised if neither of us were married by the time we were 30, we’d marry each other.
But then I’m taken captive by someone else and told I am the sacrifice, that I’m now property. A payment for a debt that has nothing to do with me.
Now I wish I could go back to that boring, safe life. Because this can’t possibly be my fairy tale.
NOTE: This is a dark contemporary standalone that occurs in the same world as The Proposal. This book can be listened to first or completely by itself.
While this is the second book of the Dark Wedding series, it can be a stand-alone, or read out of order. I had already read both books in this series, but it had been a while and I didn’t completely remember the stories. When the author offered me a chance to review this audio, I jumped at the chance, even with this being the second story.
So The Sacrifice takes place not too long after the end of The Proposal (Dark Wedding #1). Macy is the best friend of the bride in The Proposal, who catches the bouquet at the wedding. She’s a research librarian for a university. She’s an introvert with few friends and not much of a life. She does like to google random facts, which she can’t help but share with people when talking about any topic she knows. She also has some really dark fantasies, especially for a 30-year-old virgin.
During school, she and a male friend made a pact, if neither was married by the time they were 30, they would marry each other. Seemed like a good idea at the time. But she starts planning her wedding to a guy she has little interest in. Then her friends’ husband has a debt to pay. So he kidnaps Macy and delivers her to be a virgin sacrifice.
If you’ve ever read Kitty Thomas, you know she writes some dark stories. This one is dark, but is not her darkest one. While there is kidnapping and coercion, the stories work out in the end for everyone. It is one of those things where I enjoy reading the story, knowing it is fiction. I wouldn’t want to see it happen in real-life, even with a happy-ever-after. I really love the characters that Kitty Thomas writes. I always have a good time reading them and love when a stand-alone book becomes a series (just like this one did), so I get more time with the characters.
Narration:
This is my first time listening to Jason Clarke or Addison Barnes. I think they did a good job. Dual narration isn’t my favorite narration type. I honestly prefer a great single narrator, but this was done really well. I think they did a great job with all the voices and the inner monologues. I would gladly listen to them again.
Listen to a clip: HERE
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Melanie I love the cover and your review makes me want to look into this 🙂
I do love her work. She is a favorite author of mine.
“So he kidnaps Macy and delivers her to be a virgin sacrifice”? WOAH
Yeah, these books can be rather dark, but they a great stories. And there is a happy ever after for both parties, so it isn’t too dark.
I’m like you, I can enjoy these knowing they are fiction! It’s like Aleatha Romig’s Consequences series, I love it, but it is not something I would want to see happen in real life. This one sounds good, it’s new to me, but I will be adding it to my TBR. Great review!
I LOVE Aleatha Romig. Have you tried her The Light series? It is only two books, but was amazing. It kept me on my toes. If you like her, you will really enjoy Kitty Thomas too. I highly recommend you give her a try.